Briefs: Tailback Finally Has His Chance

Virginia Tech-Cincinnati Briefs

On Virginia Tech's press day in early August, tailback Vaughn Hebron discussed his individual goals for the season. The obvious one, which seemed realistic at the time, was 1,000 yards rushing.

``But that's pretty much shot now,'' Hebron said Saturday afternoon.

Hebron rushed for 105 yards, his first triple-figure game of the season, as the Hokies crushed mistake-prone Cincinnati 56-9 at Lane Stadium. With that, he now has 291 yards on the season.

It's been a difficult seven games for the Hokies' rushing leader the past two seasons. An ESPN audience saw him run through and around Virginia's defense repeatedly last November as the commentators raved about the sophomore tailback.

But injuries have hampered him this season, and the Hokies averaged 35 passing attempts through their first six games.

``The coaches never lost faith in me,'' Hebron said. ``The coaches never really made a commitment to the run. But we've gotten back to the basics lately. I think we have to be successful running the ball.

``I didn't need today as a personal thing. I think every back in our backfield is up to the task. I'm happy they had faith in me enough to call on me today.''

Tech's 196 yards rushing marked its third highest total of the season.

VERSATILE QBs. On its final series, Tech set an unofficial NCAA record by having three quarterbacks in on the same play: Tom Zban at split end, Maurice DeShazo at flanker and Rodd Wooten playing his natural position. On the sidelines was Will Furrer.

``It was weird,'' Zban said. ``Will'' Furrer ``was signaling in the plays, and Maurice and I knew them before Rodd called it.''

DeShazo, who Coach Frank Beamer said will be used at flanker the remainder of the season, caught two passes for 20 yards. Zban, in his first game of the season, caught a 14-yarder.

BIG STOP. Reserve cornerback Stacy Henley may have made the biggest tackle of the day. With Cincinnati driving in the fourth quarter, he stopped tailback David Small at the 2-yard line on fourth-and-goal.

Big deal, considering the final score. But it preserved a precious statistic for Tech's defense. The Hokies have not allowed a single fourth-quarter point in seven games this season.

``We really wanted to keep that going,'' Henley said.

SHORTS. Tech's 56 points tied for the third most since the modern era, which began in 1950. The Hokies scored 70 against Virginia Military in 1966, 59 against William and Mary in '83 and 56 against Florida State in '74.

It was also the highest point total the Hokies have posted since Beamer took over in 1987. The previous high was 41, which they did this year against Madison and in 1988 against Cincinnati.